Dipper-door latching and unlatching means



May 24, 1927.

J. A. ORNDORFF DIPPER DOOR LATCHING AND'UNLATCHING MEANS Filed Nov. 4, 1926 2 sheen-sheet 1 [J1 rim/ 01% May 24, 1927.

J. A. ORNDORFF DIPPER DOOR LATCHING AND UNLATCHING MEANS Filed Nov. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1927."

JAMES A. onnnonrr, or EAST imam, 01110.

; DiPPER-DOOR Messiaen-m financiers ivifmins.

Ap lication filed nb vember 4; 1m; snalnox'iieliis.

This invention relates to means for latching and nnlatching the door of a dipper used upon a steam shovel and it consists in the novel features rclaimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an eccentric hinged structure .for connecting the door to the body of the dipper and which may be operated so that the door when swung from a closed to an open position and from an open to a closed position with relation to the body also moves in an a-rc 'tran'sversely of the body so that the latch bolt which is carried by the door may promptly and properly engage in the keeper which is provided upon the body of the dipper.

hen the above and other, objects in view the structure includes a dipper bodypivoted to brackets which are connected with the beainof the steam shovel. Links are pivota'lly connected withthe body and the beam and hold the body at a desired angle with relation to the beam. The body is provided at its lower outer edge with a keeper. A shaft is journaled in bearings provided at the rear side of the dipper body and' eccentric members are mounted upon said shaft. Means are provided forturning' the shaft and the eccentric member's. A 'rms are pro} vid'ed at one end with bands which receive the eccentrics and the door, is mountednp on the other end portion of said arms; The door is provided at its outer side with a casing in which is located a latchbolt which is adapted to engage in the keeper when the body of the dipper is lowered and the door swings to a closed position and which is adapted to move out of the keeper when the body of the dipper is elevated to a horizontal position and the shaft is turned whereby the door is moved transversely of the body of the dipper and in a direction away from the keeper.

In the accompanying drawings :1

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a dipper showing the same in horizontal position and with the door latching and unlatching means applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the dip per as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of the structure cut on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4: is a similar view of thestructure cut onthe line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the latch bolt showing parts of the casing in section.

hereinafter described and Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing of the latch bolt and showing the'latch bolt in side elevation.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the shaft and eccentrics. v

As illnstratedin the accompanying drawings the'dipper structure to which the latching and nn'latching device is'applied comprises a'body 1 having at its rear sidelugs 2 which are connected means of a pivot bolt 3 with brackets 1 carried by a beam 5. Links 6 are connected at one endwith the beam 5 and at their, other end with the upper portion of the rear .side of the body 1 and serves to hold the body 1 at a desired angle with relation to the beamb. 'The, body 1 isprovided at its lower edge and its outer side with a keeper plate? lhe body 1 ispr'ovided at its" rear side with spaced lugs 8 in'which is journaled a shaft 9. Spaced eccentrics 10 are fixed upon the shaft 9. A curved arm 11 is fnied to the shaft 9' and a chain 12 is connected at one end with the arm 11 and at its other end with a lever 13 pivoted upon the beam 5". Carved arms 14 are provided at one end with bands 15 which surround the so entrics 10 and fit snugly thereon. A door panel 16 is carried by theother end portion of the, arinl l. A 'casing 17 is mounted upon the und'er .side of the door panel 16 at a point between the ends of the arm and a latch bolt/ Sis slidablyinounted in the casing 17. The bolt 18 is adapted to engage in the keeper plate 7 and disengage therefrom as hereinafter explained. The latch bolt 18 is preferably in the form of a cross and the arms of the cross lie in re cesses 19 provided in the side walls of the casing 17. Springs 20 may be housed in the recesses 19 and hear at one end against the end portions of the arms of the bolts 18 and at their other end against the end walls of the recesses and may serve to hold the latch bolt 18 in a projected position.

Assuming that the parts are in the position. as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and the dipper body is elevated and about to be dumped. The operator springs the lever 13, by any usual means, (not shown) whereby the arm 11 is swung about the axis of the shaft 9 and the shaft 9 and the eccentries 10 are turned in the lugs 8. Thus, the deep portions of the eccentrics 10 are swung under the axis of the shaft 9 and away from the rear side of the: body 1 of-the dipper.

Thus, the arm 14 and the door panel 16 are moved rearwardly and transversely with relation to the body 1 and the latch bolt 18 disengages the openings in the keeper plate '7. The door panel 16 then swings to a ver tical position, by gravity and the contents of the body 1 will gravitate therefrom.

Thus, the dipper empties itself. \Vhen the beam 5 is lowered and the body 1 assumes a vertical position the door panel 16 moves, by gravity, to a closed position against the end of the body 1 and the latch bolt 18 engages in the keeper plate 7. At

the same time the weight of the arm 11 and the parts attached thereto turn the shaft 5) and eccentrics 10 so that the door panel 16 and the arm 14 are moved transversely with relation to the body 1 and thus the door panel 16 is moved to a closed position with relation to the body as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The dipper may then be used for scooping up dirt and the operation hereinbefore is repeated.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that means of simple and durable structure are provided for latching and unlatching the door of a dipper espe cially adapted to be used upon a steam shovel for excavating, elevating and depositing material.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or any of the principles of the inclaimed is:

1. In combination with a dipper body having a keeper, lugs carried by the body, a shaft journaled in the" lugs, E eccentrics mounted upon the shaft, means for turning the shaft and the eccentrics, armshaving bands which receive the eccentrics, a door panel carried by the arms and a bolt carried by the door panel and adapted to engage the keeper.

2. In combination with a dipper body having a keeper, a shaft journaled upon the body, eccentrics carried by the shaft, means for turning the shaftand the eccentrics, arms having bands receiving the eccentrics, a door panel carried by the arms and a latch bolt carried by the panel and adapted to engage the keeper.

In combination with a dipper body having a keeper, a shaft journaled upon the body, eccentrics mounted upon the shaft, curved arms-having bands whichreceive the eccentrics, a door panel carried by the arms, and a bolt carried by the door and adapted to engage the keeper.

t. In combination with a dipper body having a keeper, a shaft journaled upon the body, eccentrics carried by the shaft, a door carried by the eccentrics, and a bolt carried by the door and adapted to engage the keeper..

5. In combination with a dipper body having a keeper, a shaft journaled upon the body and having eccentrics, means for turning the shaft, a door carried by the eccentries and a bolt carried by the door and adapted to engage the keeper.

In testimony whereof I ElffiX my signature.

JAMES A. ORNDORFF. 

